Like all other sports fans, I like to make my predictions on who is going to win in the playoffs and why. The first round playoff matchups have been set with a couple of final games last night deciding the final brackets. In fact, the Los Angeles Clippers were not finally out of it until they lost last night or Golden State won — both happened.

So without further ado, lets examine the matchups.

Western Conference

Nothing is going to be easy out West. Take a look at these matchups, and you’ll see why!

Golden State Warriors at 1) Dallas Mavericks

The Golden State Warriors have a few savvy veterans and a whole bunch of really good young players. The Dallas Mavericks trounced just about everyone this season with their mix of very talented veterans and exceptional young players. The interesting thing… the Mavericks never actually beat the Golden State Warriors this season. The Golden State Warriors beat the Mavericks in the season series 3-0. The Mavericks have a great home record, but the Golden State Warriors do too. You wouldn’t know it from their record, but the Warriors only lost 11 games at home. Playoff Prediction: Dallas in 7

7) Los Angeles Lakers at 2) Phoenix Suns

I don’t think the Phoenix Suns really wanted to face Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. The Lakers have had their problems, especially with injuries to everybody not named Kobe Bryant, but a lot of them are back. The Suns will smash teams, let them back in the game, and smash them again. Their style is so fast paced that fortunes can change quickly. Look for Kobe Bryant to give the Suns all sorts of problems. The Suns won the season series 3-1, and I don’t see why this will be any different. Playoff Prediction: Phoenix in 6

6) Denver Nuggets at 3) San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are way too good for a third seed, but with the Suns and the Mavs demolishing just about every team they played, here they sit. Unfortunately for the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets have been surging of late, including winning 9 of their last 10 games. One of them was against the Spurs, but by that point the Spurs were resting their starters in preparation for the playoffs. The Spurs are built for the post-season. Look for them to continue to win. Playoff Prediction: San Antonio in 6

4) Utah Jazz at 5) Houston Rockets

It’s not a misprint. The 4-seed loses home-court to the 5-seed in this matchup, just as they do in the Eastern Conference. Can a bunch of young players who surged at the beginning and have fallen off in the last 10 games beat the Houston Rockets Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming? Utah won the series 3-1, but one of Utah’s wins didn’t matter to either team. I’m a big Jazz fan, but I’m going to give this one to the home team. The Jazz team is too young and inexperienced to win this series with the home court advantage going to the Rockets. Normally, home-court doesn’t matter too much in the playoffs, but it does with young teams. And it will here. Playoff Prediction: Houston Rockets in 7

Eastern Conference

The East isn’t nearly as tough as the West in making predictions, but there should be a couple of good games.

Orlando Magic at 1) Detroit Pistons

The Magic barely made it in, by losing less games than the Indiana Pacers. The Detroit Pistons have been good for a long time, and continue to be good. The Magic are young and inexperienced, but talented — boy, are they talented! The Pistons are all veterans. Maybe, next year, Orlando. Detroit swept the season series 4-0, and look for them to sweep the playoff series as well. Playoff Prediction: Detroit in 4

7) Washington Wizards at 2) Cleveland Cavaliers

Cleveland won the series 2-1. Washington was very good until Caron Butler went down. They were good until Gilbert Arenas went down. Now they aren’t good at all. Even if Caron Butler manages to make it back, they don’t have a chance without Gilbert Arenas. Cleveland has been up and down throughout the season, but it isn’t going to matter too much. Playoff Prediction: Cleveland in 4

The New Jersey Nets are laden with veterans. The Toronto Raptors had the first pick in the NBA Draft last year because of a little luck and the fact that they really weren’t very good last year. Chris Bosh has matured more. The whole team is playing much better. And most importantly, they are under the under the new leadership of a General Manager who knows how to win. The season series was tied 2-2, which each home team winning on their own court. This is a tough call, because I really think the Nets veterans can win this one over the very young but talented Raptors, despite a season which wasn’t the best. Playoff Prediction: New Jersey in 7

4) Miami Heat at 5) Chicago Bulls

Well, here we go again. In the matchup last year, I picked the Bulls to beat the Heat, and the Miami Heat went on to win the NBA Finals. Chicago won the season series 3-1. Dwyane Wade was injured, but the Miami Heat won without him. Now, he is back, but is he really healthy enough? Can Shaq play like he did in last year’s playoffs? Are the Chicago Bulls (who have homecourt advantage), talented enough to beat the defending champions, despite their youth? I thought they were last year, but I was wrong. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this time, they can do it. Playoff Prediction: Chicago in 7